"You don't want to f**k with me over this, Ms. Montague." The latent violence in his tone had the hairs at the back of her neck rising.
"I'll tell you what I've told you for the past ten years, I don't have your data chip."
Two factions chased her. The Bureau Breeds and the Council Breeds, and to look at them, it was impossible to tell which was which.
Jonas contacted her often through the old email account of her father's that she checked regularly. It was always the same. When she was ready to give him what he wanted, then he could protect her.
Her answer was always the same. She didn't have what he wanted.
It seemed he was tired of playing nice.
"Ms. Montague, the time for lies is over." The growl in his voice was frankly terrifying.
As he stepped toward her, Styx moved as well. His action surprised her. It appeared as if he was placing himself in line to protect her against what might well be the most powerful Breed in the world at the moment.
Jonas's gaze flashed to the Wolf Breed. "She's not yours," he bit out, his tone icy.
"Doesn't matter," Styx growled back. "I pulled her in, I'm responsible for her."
A mocking smile curled her lips. He had fooled her once; she wouldn't allow him to fool her again. No doubt this fake protection was no more than another game to draw her in.
Jonas glanced back at her. "She doesn't appear to want your protection, Styx."
Storme sat up straighter. "By all means, Styx, protect me." Mocking and sweet, Storme kept her tone even, hoping to hide the fear rising inside her.
His gaze flashed back to her, irate and glittering with a warning.
"She knows what she has, Styx," Jonas growled back as he stared back at Storme.
"She knows, and she's holding on to it for a reason."
Because she had sworn she would hold on to it. Because it was the only thing her father had ever asked her to do. To protect that information.
"I'm not holding anything ..."
"Breeds can smell a f**king lie," Jonas snarled back. "And you, Ms. Montague, are lying. Tell me what the f**k you want for it and we can conclude this piece of business before the night is over."
She had always known she couldn't lie to their faces. She was too aware of what she was holding, too aware of the fact that their sense of smell would betray her.
There was no doubt Jonas Wyatt was enraged at this moment as well. It was there in every controlled inch of his body, in the glitter of his silver eyes.
"Storme, this has gone beyond whatever you believe you're protecting that information for," Styx stated quietly. "We can protect you, but we have to have the data chip."
"So you f**ked me for it?" she sneered with a harsh laugh. "Tell me, Styx, are you one of those Breeds that were trained to be gigolos for the Council?"
His gaze narrowed, and for just a second she could have sworn she saw a flash of confusion mix with the anger that ignited in his gaze.
"Are you one of those humans that believes we're nothing but animals that don't deserve to live?" Jonas accused her, the rabid fury in his voice at odds with the cool control she knew he was famous for.
She didn't flinch, she didn't cower back in her chair, but God she wanted to. She did flinch though as Styx jumped between her and Jonas, a fierce Wolf's snarl vibrating from his throat.
"Back off, Jonas!"
Navarro moved slowly into position to jump between the two Breeds if necessary.
The other Breeds moved behind Jonas, as though flanking him, protecting him.
"I want that chip, Styx," Jonas snapped. "The implications of this have gone beyond one woman's life. Don't doubt for a second I won't do whatever it takes to force what I want from her."